ABC Bullion wins production rights for the prestigious Emirates Melbourne Cup Trophy
- Written by Kelly Drew
31 October 2015: ABC Bullion, the bullion division of Pallion (Australasia’s largest precious metals services group), has today announced its appointment to manufacture the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy.
As part of a new partnership with The Victoria Racing Club (VRC), Pallion under the ABC Bullion brand will produce the coveted 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy in addition to a number of other trophies and the Harry White Whip.
As a result of the new partnership, the Emirates Melbourne Cup will be produced using gold that has been mined, refined, and crafted wholly in Australia for the first time in its 150-year history.
Valued at $175,000, the trophy contains 1.65kg of gold and 44 pieces that are hand spun over a 250-hour production process.
The appointment follows a competitive tender process where Pallion subsidiary ABC Bullion was selected as the most outstanding applicant for the prestigious contract.
Pallion CEO Andrew Cochineas said that the appointment is both an honour and a privilege.
“The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the most legendary and beloved trophy in Australian racing. As an Australian company with a rich heritage in locally sourced and produced precious metals, we’re elated to partner with the VRC for this special event on the international racing calendar.
“We look forward to using our technical expertise in precious metal to produce truly beautiful Melbourne Cups. It is a true international treasure that we are very proud to now hold within our production portfolio,” added Mr Cochineas.
VRC Chief Executive Simon Love said that the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy has a long and proud history, as does the race itself, so the tender process to appoint the next manufacturer was taken very seriously.
“Pallion and ABC Bullion had a vision to partner with Australia’s premier racing brand and presented an exciting commercial proposition to the VRC. We are looking forward to working with ABC Bullion moving forward.”
Affectionately known as the “Loving Cup”, the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy’s three handles symbolise the relationship between the winning jockey, trainer and owner and its timber base is hand turned from Australian Black Wattle.
ABC Bullion is Australia’s largest independent bullion dealer and ABC Bullion branded gold is widely considered a cornerstone of the Australian physical gold trading system. As part of the broader Pallion group of companies, ABC Bullion brings with it a history of precious metal refining, fabrication, trading and storage since 1951.
About Pallion
Pallion designs, manufactures and distributes precious metal products and related services. Commencing operations in 1951, today it is the largest fully integrated precious metal services group in Australasia. Maintaining its headquarters in Sydney Australia, it is a privately owned group of companies, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth as well as Hong Kong (SAR) and mainland China. Pallion is comprised of eight entities: ABC Bullion; ABC Refinery; Palloys; AGS|PJW; A&E Metals; Regentco; Goldenage International; and Custodian Vaults. This group of leading precious metal brands offers the following services: Bullion; Refining and Minting; Casting and Jewellery; Fabricated Metals; Findings; and Vaulting.
Chloe Taylor
